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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
May 9, 2011 No. 650
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COLLEGE NEWS
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ISU TO LEAD ALTERNATIVE HEN-HOUSING STUDY
ISU researchers will join with University of California-Davis scientists to investigate alternative egg production systems to help improve animal welfare and other practices. The two-year, $700,000 research project is funded by USDA through its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program.
CALS AMBASSADORS RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR HELP WITH RECRUITMENT
Graduating members of the CALS Ambassadors were recognized for helping the college recruit and welcome new students. During their years of service, enrollment increased 36 percent.
* Sarah Clarahan, animal science
* Samantha McConaughy, genetics
* Christan Halverson, animal science/genetics
* Kelsey Cole, animal science/dairy science
* Katie Fevold, animal science
* Clark Dolch, agricultural business
* Kia Knutson, animal science
CALS' NEW GRADUATES SHARE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
At the CALS convocation on May 7, several students used the opportunity to share their plans for the future. Her are selected examples of their comments:
* Returning to the family farm as a sixth generation farmer.
* Agriculture instructor and FFA advisor at northwest Iowa high school.
* Working for the Minnesota Twins grounds crew.
* Starting my second career after 20 years in the U.S. Army.
* Statistician with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
* Associate underwriter position at Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance.
* Started my own GPS sales and soil sampling business.
* Working for Pioneer as a corn research associate.
* Managing a commercial vineyard in Wisconsin.
* Working in Costa Rica with a sea turtle conservation internship program.
* Bottle calf herdsman at Trans Ova Genetics in Sioux Center.
* First in family to graduate from college, earning two bachelor's degrees in animal ecology and entomology.
NEW ON THE HOMEPAGE: STUDENT STUDYING CLOUD FOREST
Nate Looker, an undergraduate research assistant in the ecohydrology laboratory in natural resource ecology and management and the agronomy department's weed science laboratory, is featured on the College's web page. Looker is the first Iowa State student to be named a Goldwater Scholar and a Udall Scholar. This semester, Looker is a research intern at the Universidad Rafael Landivar in Guatemala, measuring transpiration in a cloud forest. Looker is involved with the University Honors program, the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences, ISU's Student Organic Farm and a disc jockey on the student radio station. Go to http://www.ag.iastate.edu to view his and other students profiles. If you know of a student to highlight on the web page contact Barb McBreen at 4-0707 or barbmc@iastate.edu.
CAST PAPER EXAMINES AIR ISSUES IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE
Hongwei Xin, agricultural and biosystems engineering, is co-author of a paper released by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. Titled "Air Issues Associated with Animal Agriculture: A North American Perspective," the paper goes beyond the generalizations and accusations often associated with the air topic quality. More: http://www.cast-science.org/
FLORA CO-AUTHOR OF "˜SCIENCE' ARTICLE ON SUSTAINABLE AG
Cornelia Flora, sociology, says that reducing financial risks and improving sustainability of the agricultural systems in the 21st century are important to everyone and public policy should move in that direction. Flora is co-author of an article in the current issue of the journal Science. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/may/floraScience
ORIGINS OF OBESITY LECTURE TONIGHT, MAY 9
The Nutrition and Wellness Research Center presents a lecture by Steven Blair tonight, May 9, at 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the North Central Prairie Room at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center, as part of its 2011 Symposium of the Origins of Obesity. Blair, from the University of South Carolina, will speak on "The Role of Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity." The lecture is free and open to the public.
RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR LOREN SHIERS, JUNE 14
A retirement reception will be held for Loren Shiers, research associate in agricultural and biosystems engineering, on June 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. in room 1151 NSRIC, with a brief program at 2:30 p.m.
ALUM NAMED ISURF/OIPTT DIRECTOR
Lisa Lorenzen (genetics `89, zoology and genetics `94) has been named executive director of the ISU Research Foundation and director of the Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, effective July 1. Lorenzen has been director of industry relations for ISU since 1999. Prior to that she worked for Pioneer Hi-Bred International.
ECONOMICS INSTALLS FACULTY "HALL OF HONOR"
The Department of Economics has installed a "Hall of Honor" designed to celebrate the history and accomplishments of department faculty. The hall displays two series of portraits which include faculty honored as Distinguished and University professors. An accompanying plaque details their contribution to the discipline of economics and to the university. More: Kristin Senty, ksenty@iastate.edu, 4-9849
ANIMAL SCIENCE FACULTY RECOGNIZED AT IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
Lloyd Anderson, animal science, received the Distinguished Science Award of the Iowa Academy of Science at its annual meeting on April 29-30. This award is in recognition of the best contributions of Iowans to science research, science education and service to science. Don Beitz, animal science, received the Distinguished Fellow Award, which recognizes exceptional scholarly activity to the scientific community at the national and international levels.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
May 13: CALS Alumni reception, 9:30 a.m., http://www.isualum.org/en/events/alumni_days/alumni_days_2011/
May 26: Patricia Murphy retirement reception, 3 to 6 p.m., Food Sciences Building Courtyard.
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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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OSPA TO OBSERVE SUMMER HOURS
Beginning today, May 9, the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration will be open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
CALS WORKSHOP ON PREPARING PROPOSALS FOR USDA-AFRI TODAY
CALS will host a workshop today on preparing proposals for the FY 2011 Requests for Applications for the USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative challenge areas. Ken Moore, Lois Wright Morton, John Patience and Alison Robertson will share their insights and lessons learned from leading or participating in large, multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional proposals submitted for the previous round of AFRI funding. The informal workshop format will facilitate interactive discussion and Q&A. The workshop will be from 2:10 to 3:30 p.m. in 13 Curtiss Hall (Brenton Center). More: Roxy Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu.
NEW ISU INVESTIGATOR HANDBOOK
A new Investigator Handbook is available to assist faculty and others in managing the grant process from conception to completion. The handbook is a how-to guide for funding, including identifying funding opportunities, preparing and submitting proposals, receiving and administering awards, research administration and compliance, and patents and copyrights.
FEED THE FUTURE ON-LINE CONSULTATION, MAY 9-27
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is coordinating an on-line consultation focusing on the research strategy of the U.S. government's new Feed the Future Initiative. This e-consultation provides an opportunity for researchers and stakeholders to provide input on research priorities and how best to support and engage with the FTF program. The session will run from May 9-27.
FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
June 6: USAID Technologies for Health Program; two $25 million five-year awards.
June 23: Building Opportunity Out of Science and Technology: Energizing Young Middle Eastern and North African Scientists; one award, $250,000.
July 1: Rural Health & Safety Education Competitive Grants Program; $50,000 to $300,000.
July 13 (letter of intent): NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; limited submission. More: http://nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5257&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&fr…
July 15: James S. McDonnell Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards in Studying Complex Systems (biology, biodiversity, climate, demography, epidemiology, technological change, economic development, governance or computation). More: http://www.jsmf.org/apply/fellowship/
Jan. 1: Department of Defense Broad Agency Announcement.
Open: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Open Letters of Inquiry.
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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ADVERSE VS. AVERSE
"Adverse" means either strongly opposed or unfortunate and typically refers to things, not people (adverse relations between nations or an adverse wind blew the ship off course).
"Averse" means feeling negatively about and refers to people (averse to asking for directions).
The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., 2003.
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INFOGRAZING
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EXTENSION VOLUNTEERS TEACH SAFE FOOD PRESERVATION
Twenty new ISU Extension volunteers are trained, certified and ready to share their knowledge about safe and efficient methods of home food preservation. The Master Food Volunteer pilot program is under way in ISU Extension's Region 6.
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INTERNAL VOICES
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CALS STUDENT ON WELL-ROUNDED CURRICULUM AT ISU
"As a farmer, I know I'll have to cover a lot of bases. I'll have to know how to handle all aspects of business, crops and marketing. The curriculum I'm studying is invaluable. I couldn't ask for a better education than at Iowa State." Kate Longley, a junior majoring in agricultural studies at ISU, in an article for Successful Farming.
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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THE PRINCE OF WALES AT THEN FUTURE FOR FOOD CONFERENCE
"This is the challenge facing us. We have to maintain a supply of healthy food at affordable prices when there is mounting pressure on nearly every element affecting the process. In some cases we are pushing Nature's life-support systems so far, they are struggling to cope with what we ask of them. Soils are being depleted, demand for water is growing ever more voracious and the entire system is at the mercy of an increasingly fluctuating price of oil." The Prince of Wales, an organic farmer and strong supporter of sustainable agriculture, presented the keynote speech at the Future for Food Conference at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. on May 4. The event brought together food company executives, chefs, authors, academia and nonprofit leaders to discuss the growing consumer demand for healthy, natural food. Leopold Center Distinguished Fellow Fred Kirschenmann participated in a panel discussion at the conference and had a private meeting with Prince Charles that involved sustainable agriculture leaders also attending the event. The Washington Post hosted the conference. Presentations can be viewed at: http://washingtonpostlive.com/conferences/food
CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS TOP MEAT MYTHS
"We hope this campaign will highlight for consumers that animal and meat science departments at universities can be useful resources when information seems confusing or unclear. The scientists at these institutions have committed their careers to keeping our food supply safe, nutritious and sustainable." Thomas Powel, executive director of the American Meat Science Association. AMSA, in conjunction with the American Meat Institute, has launched a campaign to combat top meat myths. More: http://www.meatami.com/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/68858
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MARGINALIA
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CURTISS HALL TULIPS AVAILABLE AS WALLPAPER FOR YOUR COMPUTER
CALS has desktop wallpapers available to be downloaded for your computer. The latest addition is spring tulips blooming in front of Curtiss Hall.
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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